"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe."
Gail Devers
A couple of days ago, the principle of the adult school invited me and another young man (also a student) to lunch. During lunch, I had mentioned to her what beautiful details the building had and she couldn't have agreed with me more.
On one side of the building, there are some brass tiles placed up very high towards the tile roof. Each one of them are very different and unique. In noticing the beauty in the details of the building, I have wondered often if there were some meaning behind them.
In our conversation, I asked her if there was any significance to the details of the buildings architectonic artifact's (I don't know if I am saying that right) and she said it was just decorative and there was no meaning behind them. I have to admit, in hearing that, I felt a little disappointed.
It might be a romantic notion, but I am not convinced that who ever took part of the design in this old building, hadn't put any thought into what they were placing onto it.
This one tile actually had something written on it and I found myself saying it out loud every time I walked by it to class. I decided to google it and find out exactly what it meant.
The Latin phrase Deo Juvante translated into modern English means:
"With God's Help."
When I read this, I felt a warm tingle wash over me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes and started to cry... you have no idea how many times I had prayed for God's help throughout all of this. It has been a whirlwind for me ever since we learned of Charlie's cancer last year in January. This month of May, it has been one year since his last chemo treatment. In that year, I diligently attended school. Last summer, Charlie and I decided that I needed to go back to school and get my High School diploma. In the state of California, you have to pass the Cahsee to get your Diploma. If you don't pass it, you will only get a Certificate of Completion and that is not a Diploma. You can only imagine the discouragement I had felt. Just to let you know, I did pass the Cahsee!
We barely got through the summer after his chemo and I felt like I had jumped into the race without any training or conditioning for that matter. School has changed a lot in twenty five years! It has felt like I have had blinders on to keep me all the more focused on what I needed to do. In trying to even compete in this race, I have also felt like I haven't been able to spend time with people that I love. It has been hard and with God's help, I got through it! To know that I have been saying With God's Help in Latin, without even knowing what I was saying this entire time, is mind blowing to me. Then waiting for the teacher to unlock the door, I would pray before each class in English for God's help to get me through it. Wow ~
Since last September, I have been enrolled in adult school. With the school year coming to an end, I can honestly say that I am going to miss it. I was hesitant to go back to school, but felt it was very important. Attending class each day, made me more aware of the obstacles and challenges we (class mates) each face in pursuing our personal goals. By receiving encouragement, I was able to foster self confidence to meet and overcome my personal endeavors. This process taught me more about myself, and allowed me to grow with new aspirations and future dreams. Though it was not an easy process, I am thankful for what I have gained from it. I believe education can be a path way to self-realization.
Before class, I would arrive at least twenty five to thirty minutes early. I liked to find a parking place close to the school so that I wouldn't have to walk far in the dark after class would be let out. I also liked the extra time before hand to unwind and be able to collect myself or go over assignments. I often found myself admiring the beautiful detail of this building and looked forward to being a part of it each week.
Below, you can see where I spent a lot of my time in the past year. I wouldn't have traded it for the world. Not one minute of it! Laughing out loud ~ I can say that now because it is over, but at the time that it was taking place, I sure did cry over some assignments and sweat through a lot of the tests!
In Pacific Grove, the side streets are lined with old houses that have been turned into charming cafes, or little boutiques filled with treasures that are made from local artists and can not be found anywhere else. The houses have been painted with contrasting colors you would never imagine putting together here in the valley. This is one of the reasons why I love Pacific Grove. The steps are also lined with colorful blooming pots and window boxes that are always filled with happy flowers and cascading plump sweet alyssum. With all of the color that your eyes see, it just makes you want to re paint your house and plant flowers in everything and everywhere!
At work, our milk man is 66; I have never seen anyone with such a positive attitude. He always leaves me with a question to ask myself. This morning he said, "Well Angela, Peter Pan told Wendy she had to think of a happy thought in order to fly. What is your happy thought?" He always makes me ponder the question he has left me with (I am a deep thinker); happy thoughts lift you up opposed to thoughts that drag you down. Life is what you make it.
I hope today and always that you are flying with your happy thoughts and letting go of the ones that drag you down.
Fly ~ Fly High ;)
When we got back from our little get away in Pacific Grove, I helped my husband Charlie with unloading the rocks for the wall that corners behind where the wood stove sits. He is almost finished and it looks fantastic! It really gives our family room a warm rustic feel. As I was unloading the rocks, I couldn't help but think, 'I don't know how my husband does this without any help on a daily basis.' I thought it again while I re stacked the rocks we didn't use. Whew ~ it was hard work! That man amazes me!
Diandra and I spent some time together getting a pedicure last week. I have never done my nails this dark of a color, but I really like it! I had Diandra take a picture of my feet while this lovely lady Jennifer was painting my toe nails. This was my second professional pedicure in all of my forty four years of life and my daughter Diandra giggled, as she watched me try to get into the chair and not know what to do or how to do it. Did you know the chairs all swivel to the side so that you can get into them easier? Oh my goodness... I crack myself up! Do you have those I Love Lucy moments?
The ladies from work and I got together for coffee on Friday night. It was really nice. We sat outside and watched the sun go down, as we shared what each of us did with our week. One of our girls in food service got a new job. We were really happy for her and also sad she was leaving us. My friend and I talked over the weekend and she had shared with me with all the sea of emotions she has about leaving. I can understand how she is feeling; you get very attached with the children and watching them grow up, not to mention getting close to people you work with. She will be going to work for Creative Alternatives Services, which has several homes through out the county for children in special need. My friend, as a child also lived in foster care. I know that God will use her in so many ways with the children and people that she will be working with. I have seen with my own two eyes while working with her for years, how children gravitate towards her. Cindy is always loving, caring, and encourages any one she talks with and I am very proud to call her my friend. This is really a good ~ good ~ good thing!
It has been hard trying to get back into the groove of not being on vacation anymore. I had to run some errands after I got off from work yesterday and decided to lay down when I finally got home. When I woke up and looked at the clock, I couldn't believe that I had slept for two hours!
Inside of the Bed and Breakfast
In the garden outside of the Bed and BreakfastCharlie and I had four glorious days away from home, in a charming little Bed and Breakfast nestled in Pacific Grove. It was just what the Doctor had ordered! We got some real R&R not only for both of our bodies, but as well as our mind and soul. This was such a treat for us, only because when we do get away, we almost always take our trailer; which consists of a lot of preparation. In staying at a B&B, you get spoiled with breakfast being made for you and your choice of "hot tea or wine and cheese" (I use the quotations around these two, because you could have made a dinner out of the delightful spread of h'ordeuvres our host Diane would lay out) in the afternoon. It was beautiful and made you feel absolutely pampered!
We found ourselves outside a lot enjoying the garden and have started rethinking the way we have our own yard. Charlie and I would like to incorporate the gardens little nooks of tranquil and peaceful surroundings where one can meditate and enjoy the nature of being outdoors. We already have some designs on how we want to do that and I am really excited about them!
I believe almost half of the valley were vacationing in the Monterey County! In talking with the guest that also stayed at the B&B we learned that they lived only thirty minutes (give or take a few) from where we live. In addition, Charlie and I went to a Restaurant called the Fish House (which I highly recommend), and found out if you don't have reservations, there is a long wait. In waiting, everyone started talking with one another and again I found out, a couple lived where I grew up. We immediately felt that we knew each other somehow because we both thought from the start, we looked very familiar to one another. I love how this happens, although it does boggle the mind in how small the world really is after all.*Click on photo to enlarge ~ I couldn't choose in what photo's to upload, so I am cheating and put them into two different colleges.
I came across this picture in my mom's photo album of me and my bunny cake. I thought that it would be a fun little memory maker for those of you that have grand-children, little one's of your own still at home or of someone special that you like to spend time with.
I believe this was my very first cake that I made all by myself. I recall my mom finding little projects that we could do while we were on vacation in the Spring, Winter, and Summer breaks from school. Give us kids two days and we were already screaming how bored we were and there was nothing to do! She learned real quick to keep us semi-busy before we drove her crazy.
It was easy and fun! We decorated the bunny with frosting, coconut, candied gum drops and licorice. Although, you can use what ever candy you chose. There is no right or wrong way in making this cute bunny.
How to cut the ears and bow tie are below:
I got a telephone call from my sweet niece Alexis the other day to let me know about the new project her class was doing. She was so excited about it and talking so fast that I could barely understand her at first. Giggling, I had to tell her to slow down and start again. As she slowly started again, I could understand why she was so excited. Alexis loves to do crafts! The class project was creating their own spring hat by adding whatever they wanted to them. Alexis was laughing and telling me about Jimmy (a boy in her class), and what he already put on his hat; grass and a toy bunny with eggs on it. I asked her if she had any plans on how she was going to design her hat? Did she have plans! I gave her a Michael's Craft Gift card so that she could pick out what she wanted for her birthday that she recently had and she was excited about being able to use that for her hat. She went on to tell me that they (my baby sister Kiersten and Alexis) were going to have a "Mommy and Daughter day." I might want to add how special this is right now, only because my sister just had her fourth baby. They truly needed a day like this and I believe this day will be tucked away in both of their hearts to recall on as a sweet memory.
My sister Kiersten sent me a picture of the finished project.
Isn't it beautiful?!
This brought back memories of when I did this when I was her age. I have to tell you. . . I had forgotten about it until my niece Alexis shared her class project with me. Did you make a spring hat when you were little?
